Desk structure



May 29, 1951 W. E. NORDMARK 2,554,839

DESK STRUCTURE Filed June 16, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fig E 452%? E" FMimw a g-&

y 195-1 w. E. NORDMARK 2,554,839

DESK STRUCTURE Filed June 16, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fife/fer 15'. Nbrdmarkf Patented May 29, 1 951 2,554,839 DESK STRUCTURE Walter E. Nordmark, Grand Rapids, Mich., as-

signor to American Seating Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 16, 1947, Serial No. 755,005

The present invention relates to desk structures and more particularly to such structures for use in classrooms or the like. The invention is in the nature of an improvement on the desk structure disclosed in a co-pending application for patent on Combination Desk and Chair Structure, Serial No. 714,396, filed December 6, 1946, by Benjamin J. m, Claude L. Tinklepaugh and Edward Earl Weston and by them assigned to my assignee.

The primary objects of this invention are to provide an improved box-type desk top having a cover which may be tilted upwardly in the rear to give access to the interior of the desk-top, and which cover may also be secured in a reverse tilted position with the front elevated so that the cover is better adapted to support books and papers in a conveniently inclined position for reading and writing; to provide such a desk structure in which the normally horizontal cover may be manually lifted in' the rear until any of certain predetermined angles of inclination is reached, whereupon the rear of the cover may be manually lowered to its original position while the front of the cover remains in a firmly supported position of elevation the cover thus being conveniently inclined for better vision in reading and writing; to provide such a desk structure in which the cover may be lowered from its inclined reading position to its normal horizontal position by merely raising the rear end of the cover to its maximum height, thus automatically disengaging the mechanism which supports the front end of the cover in elevated position and then manually lowering the top to horizontal position; to provide a smooth'and quiet operating mechanism for such a structure; and in general to provide such a desk structure which is eflicient in operation, reasonably economical in manufacture and attractive in appearance.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, where- 1n:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, of a box-typedesk top the supporting pedestal for which is shown fragmentarily and which pedestal may be of the U-shaped type shown in the co-pending application identified above, wherein a desk top is mounted on the upper end of one vertical support and a chair is mounted on the upper end of the other vertical support of the U-shaped pedestal, the cover of the top box being here indicated in three different positions;

Figure 2 is a side and rear perspective view of the same with the cover .of the topbox being shown in a still different position;

Claims. (01. 312316) Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of parts of the same, taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of certain operating parts at one side of the desk structure; and

Figure 5 is a front and side perspective view of the desk structure with the front of the cover thereof in an elevated position.

Referring now in detail to these drawings, the box-type desk top structure there shown may be mounted on any suitable support or pedestal, but is particularly well adapted for inclusion in a combination desk-chair unit of the type shown in the application identified above which unit is mounted on a tubular supporting frame having a vertical support for a chair (not shown) and another vertical support, here designated Ill, for the desk structure. The desk top is preferably of sheet metal formed into a box for the reception of books and supplies, the box having a front wall side walls l2, a rear wall l3, and a bottom M to the underside of which is secured a mounting bracket I5 having a depending portion l6 vertically slidably disposed within the vertical support l0 and maintained therein in vertically adjusted position by means of a clamp The upper marginal edges of the front, side and rear walls of the top box are curled inwardly and downwardly as shown to provide a smooth upper rim for the box.

A hinge leaf l8 (see Figure 2) is secured to the front wall ll of the top box, said leaf having a flange l9 secured as by spot welding to the inside of the front wall I I and being curled around the upper rim of the front wall and then curled forwardly, downwardly and inwardly to form a bearing for an elongated hinge pin 20. A hinge member 2| has similar curled portions 22 on its forward edge which embrace portions of the hinge pin 20 to thus secure the hinge member 2| to the upper, forward end of the top box swingably about a horizontal axis.

The rearward end 23 of the hinge member 2| is'also curled to form a bearing for the horizontal middle portion of a bent rod bail 24 having rearwardly and downwardly extending opposite side portions or links 25 which are thus connected to the hinge member 2| swingably about a second horizontal axis. The wood lid or cover 26 for the box is also connected to the rearward end of the hinge member 2| swingably about said second horizontal axis by means of bearing brackets 21 secured as by wood screws 28 to the underside of the cover 26 and having curled portions 29 which turnably embrace the opposite ends of the middle portion of the bail 24.

The lower, rearward ends of the side portions wardly located notches 35 and forwardly located notches 36 are provided in the guide members 32, below and adjoining the guides 3|. These rearward and forward pairsof notches constitute.

stop means adapted to receive the arms 30-of the bails link portions 25 to prevent rearward movement of the arms 30 beyond predetermined points.

A bar 31 is forwardly-rearwardly' slidably mounted on each guide member 32 by means of screws 38 passing through slots 39 in the front and rear ends of the bar 3'! and threaded in the guide member (see Figure 4). Each bar 3'! hasa forwardly-rearwardly extending opening 40 with downwardly extending rearward and forward notches 41, 42 respectively therein, which-opening and notches registerv with the gguide 3land notches 35, 36 of theguide-memberwhen the bar 31 is slid to a rearward position, but the, notches 4!, 42 of the bar 31 do not register with the notches 35, 35 of the guidewhen the 'bar 31 is slid to a forward position. The arms 3% extend through the guides 3| into the openings 40' of the bars 31, and contact of said arms 30 with the forward ends of the. openings 40 slides the bars 31 forwardly whereas contact of the arms 3!] with the rearward ends-of the openings 40 slides the bars 31 rearwardly. It willtherefore be seen that the stop means.-.notches 35, 36are operable during forward movement of the arms 30 to prevent any rearward movement of the arms beyond predetermined points when the arms are seated in either pair of notches 35 or 36, and that when the arms 30 'arriveat the forwardmost ends of the openings-40 in the bars 31 said bars are slid forwardly so that the arms are permitted unimpeded rearward travel in-the guides 3i and openings 40, the notches 35, 36being rendered inoperable as stop means.

A spring clip 43 is secured;as-.bymeans-of Wood screws 44 adjacent the center front edge of the cover 26 of the top box, This clip-43 normally engages the curled forward edge of the hinge member 2| so that the hinge member and the cover are normally coupled together formovement in unison. The; spring clip. 43 is, however, yieldable under pressure to permit uncouplingof the cover and the hinge membersothat thecover is free to move relative tothe hinge member.

If desired the rearward end of the cover -26,may. be provided with. a book rest 45. asshown in Figures 1 and 2.

Operation The normal position of the cover 26' is hori-- zontal as shown in full lines'in Figure l, in which position the cover serves as a work surface and swinging or tilting movement, the cover26 and hinge member 2| are coupled together. by the spring clip 43 and therefore move: in unison. Meanwhile the arms 30: of the links 25 move.for-

wardly, passing freelyover thenotches 35., 36.be-..

cause of the forward-upwardly opening formation of said notches. When the cover reaches its extreme limit of upward movement, arms 30 slide bars 31 forwardly thus rendering notches 35, 36 inoperable so that the arms 30 may pass freely rearwardly thereover as the cover is swung back to its normal horizontal position; and .the arms 30 move-the-bars 31 rearwardly when such normal position of the cover is reached.

The cover may be moved to forwardly-up- .Wardly. inclined positions for convenience in reading and writing, and as shown to a position of 10 degreeinclination as illustrated by the dotted lines of Figure 1 or-to a position of 20 degree inclination as illustrated by broken lines in the same figure. This is accomplished by manually lifting the cover 26 at its rearward end until the arms 30 engage in one of the pairs of notches 35 or 36 thus to prevent rearward movement of said arms beyond thepair of notches selected. The rear; end of the cover 26 is then pressed downwardly, thus disengaging the spring clip 43 from the hinge member 2|; and uncoupling the cover from the, hinge member, which latter remains supported in rearwardly-upwardly inclined position by the links 25 and their arms SD-engag-ing in notches 35 or 36 of the guides 3|. The cover is then swung downwardly in the rear, so that its rearward end rests on and is supported by the rim of the. rear wall'l3 of the ,top box. If desired, rubber cushioning elements 46 may be mounted on said rim at the rear corners of the top box, for silencing. this contact of the cover with the top box.

The cover 26 is returned-from either of its forwardly-upwardly inclined positions to its normal horizontal position by again manually raising the rear end of thecover to its extreme limit of up ward movement, whereupon the bar BI'is moved forwardly and the spring clip 43 is forced into engagement with the hinge; member 2|. The cover 26 may then be lowered in 'unisonwith the hinge member as previously described.

It will thus be seen-thatthis invention provides an easily and quietly operated desk structure well adapted to the purposes set forth, and while but one specific'embodiment-of the invention has been herein shown and described it will be understood that the construction shownmay associated with the upper front edge of the-top box to permit swinging: movement of the cover to a rearwardly-upwardlyinclined elevated position giving access to the interior of the top box through the open top thereof; means for pivot,

ally supportingthe cover intermediate its-front and rearledges whenelevated as aforesaid, said last-mentioned means comprising a forwardly-- rearwardly extending guide :on the top box having a stop notch therein, and a link pivotally con-- nected to thecover forwardly of the-guideuand intermediate the covers front and rear edges, and provided with an arm vmovablein the; guide and adapted to engage in said: step notch; said front edge of the cover being. dissociable from'the upperfront edge of the top box to permit, swingingg movement of; the cover about its pivotal conneC- tionto saidlinle to a rearwardly-downwardly: iniclined elevated position; stop means-preventing.

forward and rearward and consequent lowering movements of the cover when in said rearwardlydownwardly inclined elevated position; and means for disengaging said arm from said stopnotch to permit lowering movement of the cover.

2. In a desk structure of the class described: an upwardly open top box and a cover therefor; means for mounting the cover on the top box whereby the front edge of the cover is pivotally associated with the upper front edge of the top box to permit swinging movement of the cover to selected rearwardly-upwardly inclined positions giving access to the interior of the top box through the open top thereof; means for pivotally supporting the cover intermediate its front and rear edges when elevated as aforesaid to a selected position, said last-mentioned means comprising a forwardly-rearwardly extending guide on the top box having stop notches therein, and a link pivotally connected to the cover forwardly of the guide and intermediate the covers front and rear edges and provided with an arm movable in the guide and adapted to engage in one of said stop notches; said front edge of the cover being dissociable from the upper front edge of the top box to permit swinging movement of the cover about its pivotal connection to said link to a rearwardly-downwardly inclined elevated position; stop means preventing forward and rearward and consequent lowering movements of the cover when in said rearwardly-downwardly inclined elevated position; and means for disengaging said arm from said stop-notch to permit lowering movement of the cover.

3. In a desk structure of the class described: an upwardly open top box and a cover therefor; means for mounting the cover on the top box whereby the front edge of the cover is pivotally associated with the upper front edge of the top box to permit swinging movement of the cover to a rearwardly-upwardly inclined elevated position giving access to the interior of the top box through the open top thereof; means for pivotally supporting the cover intermediate its front and rear edges when elevated as aforesaid, said lastmentioned means comprising a forwardly-rearwardly extending guide on the top box having a stop notch therein, and a link pivotally connected to the cover forwardly of the guide and intermediate the covers front and rear edges and provided with an arm movable in the guide and adapted to engage in said stop notch; a bar mounted for forward and rearward, sliding movement adjacent the guide, said bar having a notched opening therein into which said arm extends, and said bar being shiftable by contact of said arm with the forward end of said opening to a forward position in which the notches of the guide and bar opening are out of registry thus to permit unimpeded rearward movement of the arm in the guide and the opening, and said bar being shiftable by contact of the arm with the rearward end of said opening to a rearward position in which the notches of the guide and the bar opening are in registry and are thus engageable by said arm during the latters forward movement; said front edge of the cover being dissociable from the upper front edge of the top box to permit swinging movement of the cover about its pivotal connection to said link to a rearwardly-downwardly inclined elevated position; stop means preventing forward and rearward and consequent lowering movements of the cover when in said rearwardlydownwardly inclined elevated position.

4, In a desk structure of the class described:

an upwardly open top box and a cover therefor; a hinge member having its forward end mounted at the front of the top box swingably about a horizontal axis and having its rearward end connected to the cover intermediate the latters front and rear edges swingably about a second horizontal axis, said hinge member and cover being associated at their front edges for swinging movement in unison about the first-mentioned axis to a rearwardly-upwardly inclined elevated position giving access to the interior of the top box through the open top thereof; means for supporting the cover at the second-mentioned axis when elevated as aforesaid, said means comprising a forwardly-rearwardly extending guide on the top box rearwardly of the second-mentioned axis and having a stop-notch therein, and a link pivotally connected to the cover and the hinge member at said second-mentioned axis and provided with an arm movable in the guide and adapted to engage in said stop notch; said front edge of the cover being dissociable from the front edge of the hinge member to permit swinging movement of the cover about the second-mentioned axis to a rearwardly-downwardly inclined elevated position; and means for disengaging said arm from said stop notch to permit lowering movement of the cover.

5. In a desk structure of the class described: an upwardly open top box and a cover therefor; a hinge member extending across the top box from side to side and having its forward end mounted at the front of the top box swingably about a horizontal axis and having its rearward end connected to the cover intermediate the latters front and rear edges swingably about a second horizontal axis, said hinge member and cover being associated at their front edges for swinging movement in unison about the firstmentioned axis to a rearwardly-upwardly inclined elevated position giving access to the interior of the top box through the open top thereof; means for supporting the cover at the secondmentioned axis when elevated as aforesaid, said means comprising forwardly-rearwardly extending guides on the opposite sides of the top box rearwardly of the second-mentioned axis and having stop notches therein, and a bail having a horizontal middle portion turnably mounted on the rearward edge of the hinge member and having links depending at opposite sides of the top box and provided with arms movable in the guides and adapted to engage in said stop notches; said front edge of the cover being dissociable from the front edge of the hinge member to permit swinging movement of the cover about the secondmentioned axis to a rearwardly-downwardly inclined elevated position; and means for disengaging said arm from said stop notch to permit lowering movement of the cover.

WALTER E. NORDMARK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Oct, 17, 1928 

